Larval development of the rodent botfly, Cuterebra tenebrosa, in bushy-tailed wood rats and its relationship to pupal diapause

Abstract

Rodent botflies, Cuterebra tenebrosa Coquillett, were reared through several generations in bushy-tailed wood rats (Neotoma cinerea) in the laboratory. Eggs hatched in 10 days. Thirty-five days were required for complete larval development, with the first and second larval molts occurring at 9 and 19 days, respectively. Mature larvae formed puparia within 24 h after exit from host. Pupation look place 8 days later and diapausing characters were visible on the 12th post-exit day. Larvae from wood rat hosts kept on a long daylenglh ([Formula: see text] light) gave rise to a high percentage of non-diapausing pupae. Larvae reared on short daylengths produced diapausing pupae. Non-diapausing pupae emerged in 52 days, whereas diapausing pupae required up to 2 years to emerge. Attempts to terminate pupal diapause via temperature or photoperiod manipulation were unsuccessful.